Radius Track Bends the Curve at New World Symphony in Miami

MINNEAPOLIS (June 10, 2010) -- Radius Track Corporation (RTC), the world's premier provider of curved light gauge steel framing and BIM enabled 3D modeling for curved surfaces, is nearing completion of its work on Gehry Partners' current project, the New World Symphony campus expansion in Miami Beach. The project is a celebration of curved surfaces, and Gehry's vision calls for curves in almost every space of the 106,350 square-foot project. New World Symphony, the noted orchestral academy, prepares highly-gifted graduates of distinguished music programs for leadership roles in orchestras and ensembles around the world. Soon, its students will have access to some of the orchestral world's premier performance spaces and learning environments.

RTC's artistry is evident even before one enters the building. An overhanging portico encompasses Gehry's signature scalloped sails created by Radius Track craftsmen. Inside, a soaring 80-foot glass wall leads into an atrium featuring playful, geometric practice and rehearsal rooms, a high-tech box office, and a public bar with an undulating canopy. The centerpiece of the building is a 757 seat natural acoustic performance space featuring large, distinctive, sail-like acoustical surfaces designed for the ultimate orchestral experience. A director's studio and penthouse garden top the structure.

RTC provided all the BIM enabled 3-D modeling for the project's curved surfaces and provided its Curved Right® custom fabricated steel framing members to support the complex architecture of the building. Chuck Mears, AIA, CEO of RTC, says this project has been one of the most challenging in company history due the abstract and unbalanced nature of the forms that exist in the space. "Because many of surfaces are angled, tipped or curved, traditional framing methods do not meet our needs. The framing members had to be perfectly fabricated with incredible precision. When you are creating surfaces like these, every piece is different."

RTC created several large mockups of some of the more complicated structural forms in a nearby Miami warehouse. The entire assembly sequence had to be tested, with all trades participating. "We perfected the knife edge precision curves that were needed on this project," says Mears. "We wanted to weld these pieces together in the field, but that was impossible on this project. Even a simple weld would warp the shape of the form, so we came up with a unique solution. We created a tie system which holds the members together, which enabled us to produce a smooth sharp knife edge."

RTC has previously collaborated with Gehry Partners on the Conde Nast Publication Building in New York City, the Experience Music Project in Seattle, the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the BP Bridge in Millennium Park, Chicago. New World Symphony is expected to be completed on January 2011. For additional information, visit www.radiustrack.com, email info@radiustrack.com or call 888-872-3487.

Editors Note: High res construction and modeling images of New World Symphony are included. Radius Track is sponsoring a tour of the building as part of the AIA Continuing Education program ET069a series on 10 a.m. - noon on Thursday, June 10 and Friday, June 11.